"DIRE CONSEQUENCES"

Of all the sticky subjects in the world, the subject of sin is one from which most
cringe.

Sin has dire consequences for those who practice it and by those it effects that are
innocent by-standers.

Sin was introduced to the world in the dawn of time, and has been a plague the world
ever since.

DISCUSSION
I. WHAT SIN IS

Sin is defined in the Bible very clearly as transgression of God's Law.

John wrote succinctly: "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also
the law: for sin is the transgression of the law" {1 John
3:4}.

The word in the original language denotes the missing of the mark,
like an archer who misses the desired target.

Thus, when someone sins they have missed the desired target God has
set for them.

It should be noted that we do not inherit sin from our parents, but
we can inherit the consequences of sin.

Paul said: "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and
travaileth in pain together until now" {Romans 8:22}.

Some who may have lived a life of sin and shamelessness before they
were baptized may have to suffer consequences from their
actions after they become a Christian.

If someone is a brawler before he becomes a Christian and from his
past sins someone files charges on him for his behavior and
is subsequently sent to prison for that crime, he has
suffered the consequences from his sineven though his sins have been forgiven.

There is no difference between "small" sins and "Big" sins in the sight of
God.

Every sin a person commits is ultimately against God.

We may commit sins against other people, but it all is against the
Great I AM.

When God spoke to Abimelech after he had taken Sarah into his harem,
He told him He had stopped Abimelech from "sinning against me"
in reference to Himself {Genesis 20:6}.

Some will ask: "Why did God not create man where he could not sin?"

God created man as a free moral agenthe can choose to do or not to
do anything he wishesincluding sin.

Man was created in the image of God; thus he has the ability to
choose what he wills to do.

Controlling sin and lust.

The lusts of the flesh the New Testament speaks about are not, in and
of themselves, sinful.

Some abuse this phrase in the Bible as one that teaches that all are
born with an inherited, sinful nature.

There are certain drives that are inherently in mankind:

The drive to eat and drink.

The sex drive.

The drive for achievement.

These drives are natural in all people, it is when they are abused
and not controlled and used in the specific ways God has
intended when they become sinful.

II. DECEPTIVE NATURE OF SIN

Sin is very deceptive in its appearance and Satan is always seeking new
victims {1 Peter 5:8}.

Paul was worried about the Corinthian brethren being deceived by
false teachers: "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent
beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be
corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ" {2 Corinthians 11:3}.

The Gospel is laid out in clear terms, but those who choose to
deceive people are always going to do so with subtle
motivesthey will never announce that they are about to
deceive you into sin.

Sin must be dealt with accordingly.

Sin has to be dealt with, for it is what separates God's people from
fellowship with Him: "1Behold, the LORD's hand is not
shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it
cannot hear: 2But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and
your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear" {Isaiah
59:1, 2}.

God hates the sin but loves the sinner.

The Hebrew writer wrote: "But exhort one another daily, while it is
called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the
deceitfulness of sin" {Hebrews 3:13}.

Because sin is deceitful, it will make some have no remorse over their
sin.

Jeremiah dealt with this very thing: "14They have healed also the
hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying,
Peace, peace; when there is no peace. 15Were they ashamed
when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither
could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that
fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith
the LORD" {Jeremiah 6:14, 15}.

Jeremiah was dealing with a situation when Judah did not want to hear
they were going into captivity, but would rather
hear things that pleased their ears.

Because of the deceitful priest and prophets, the people had no shame
when they sinned.

Sin must be called exactly what it isan abomination before a Just and Holy
God.

No one can live their life in a sinful state and expect to see
Heaven's Gate.

Too many want to turn a deaf ear to the reality of sin.

To keep from being deceived by sin we must answer just as Jesus
did: "It is written" {Matthew 4:4, 7, 10}.

III. THE END RESULT OF SIN

The end result of sin is a spiritual death in eternal fire.

James penned these words: "13Let no man say when he is tempted, I am
tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil,
neither tempteth he any man: 14But every man is tempted,
when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15Then when lust hath
conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth
forth death" {James 1:13-15}.

Sin will be alluring throughout one's life, but the end result will
always be spiritual and then eternal death.

If one continues to live in a sinful state, one will become so enslaved in
sin that it is very difficult to get out.